| abstract |
The invention relates to a novel method for the depolymerization of lignin, comprising the steps of: providing a black liquor obtained from the treatment of delignification of the biomass: concentrating said black liquor; subjecting the concentrated black liquor to a hydrothermal treatment; adding an acid to the reaction mixture obtained in the previous step; separating the precipitate from the liquid phase resulting in the previous step; and extracting, from the recovered liquid phase, the aromatic products of depolymerization of lignin, such as phenol, cresols, catechol and the derivatives thereof (3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol and 4-ethylcatechol). |